This week has also seen Apple departures including longtime PR chief Katie Cotton and Zane Row, VP of Sales for North America. Today we’re learning about an actual addition to the family instead of a subtraction. Apple hired Ari Partinen, who was formally the Lumia Photography Lead at Nokia and is listed as one of the inventors of the PureView camera system.

Today will be my last day working for the amazing #Lumia family. In June I will start a new chapter in Cupertino, California. Much love!

The 8MP rear shooter on the iPhone 5s has also been regarded as an excellent smartphone-class camera, but there is always room for improvement. And while the addition of Partinen to the Apple family means that we’re sure to see an uptick in iPhone camera quality down the road, his contributions won’t come soon enough to be featured on the iPhone 6.

Speaking of the iPhone 6, Reuters is reporting that Apple’s next generation flagship smartphone will arrive a month earlier than previously thought -- the 4.7” smartphone is now expected to arrive in stores this August. Apple is quickly ramping up production of the iPhone 6, and has plans to produce 80 million handsets via its partners before the end of the year.

4.7" iPhone 6 mockup

The 4.7” version of the iPhone 6 will be the first to hit store shelves, but it’s been widely reported that a larger, 5.5” version won’t be too far behind.

Evidently you don't subscribe to the idea of patents. Companies that invest millions in R&D shouldn't have companies like Samesung just rip it off for free. Sure Apple has done some things that others have, like wheels on a car, but when it comes to major game changing tech, Apple's paving that highway. Might want to check into the patent war score for proof. 'nuff said...

dudeman44, you're doing everything completely wrong. Using any article from tuaw, bgr and appleinsider as your proof is the fastest way to get sh!tfaced. Want to argue? Then use the same sources Android folks use - and turn the evidence against themselves.

You can't destroy arguments from the outside, you have to work from within. Remember: Julius Caesar repeatedly defeated death in battle, only to die within the friendly walls of Rome.

While you may feel that Apple is the Independent Owner and Master Chef at your local Asian/Spanish/Indian/Etc Fusion restaurant. Who is consistently paving the way with innovative new dishes, years ahead of everyone else... that's far from reality.

The truest analogy would be to call them the Menu Designer, as they primarily make the interface between consumer and cook. Apple decides what is trending, presents these limited items to the consumers in magical formats and gets the actual chefs to invent the dish.

Apple purchases the various components that make their products from Foxconn, ARM, Samsung, Sony etc.Retina Display, Multitouch, A6, iSight and just about EVRYTHING else was purchased from another manufacturer or acquired by purchasing a company that actually invented the tech.

Apple WAS incredibly inventive when they first created the iOS software... that has nearly stagnated. Apple IS incredibly inventive with patent litigation on prior-art, the NON-nonobvious and making an application as vague and general as possible... that is the highway they are paving.

If your magical Apple opinion is entirely based on software they invented or the FASHION by which they assemble other companies components... you are entitled to that opinion.If however, it is based on hardware or patents... it is invalid.